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Department of Sociology Internship Program Description

Sociology/Criminology/WGS/AFST 4754 Learning Objectives

Through the internship program, students will:

  1. Solve “real world problems” in “real world situations”
  2. Gain career-based preparation
  3. Improve verbal, visual, and written communication skills 
  4. Practice critical thinking skills
  5. Be a contributing member of a team effort
  6. Apply sociological or criminological perspective to the internship experience
  7. Identify and apply sociological/criminological based theories and concepts to understand social phenomenon in the context of their internship experience
  8. Develop an understanding of and practice important career-based concepts, such as: 
    • Professionalization
    • Career-based skills, e.g., report writing, interviewing and/or interacting with clients/citizens
    • Prioritizing duties

Student internships will be overseen by the Internship Coordinator, Donna Sedgwick, (652 McBryde; tel.: 231-8965; email: sedgwick@vt.edu). Students find their own internship placements, complete the department internship status form, and email (or send) the form to the Internship Coordinator. The Internship Coordinator reviews and approves the placements. Students may contact the Internship Coordinator to receive a listing of local internships. Once the internship form has been submitted and the internship approved, then Sociology Administrative Staff will enroll students in the internship course. Students cannot self enroll in internship.

Internship Prerequisites 

Students must be Sociology or Criminology majors or double majors, (or Sociology minors) with Junior or Senior standing. Students must have an overall QCA of 2.0 and may not be on probation.

The Internship

Students typically enroll in internship for one semester (or for the summer) and receive 3 credits for that period.

Note: Students who enroll for summer internship will enroll in Summer Session and complete the120 hour internship during the 12-week session. Students do have to enroll in summer session and pay tuition.

Internship Requirements

  1. Completion of 120 hours at an Internship Site. In a 15-week semester, this averages to 8 hours per week. The distribution of hours is negotiated by the intern and the agency (For example, an intern may spend one full day per week at the agency, divide the 8 hours across two days, etc. This decision is directed by your class schedule and the needs of the agency).
  2. Short Internship Preparation Video: Students watch a short video about how to approach their internship successfully and answer questions.
  3. Weekly Logs and Response to Prompts: Students are required to submit a weekly log of their work (approximately one short paragraph per week) via email to Dr. Sedgwick. Students are also required to respond to comments that Dr. Sedgwick makes about their experience. Also, periodically throughout the semester, Dr. Sedgwick will send specific prompts for the student to respond to about career-based and sociological concepts as they connect to their internship experience.
  4. Final Reflection Paper: At the end of the internship, students submit a 3 – 5 page reflection paper. Students follow the paper guidelines to complete the paper. The paper is submitted electronically by the last day of class.
  5. Final Poster: At the end of the internship students use an electronic poster template to complete a poster about their internship following the poster guidelines. The poster is submitted electronically the last day of class.
  6. Poster Presentation. (Optional) Students are encouraged to participate in the Experiential Learning Poster Session of the Department of Sociology Undergraduate and Graduate Research Symposium during the spring (or related symposium/conference). Students who participate will present poster (stand by poster, answer questions about experience) about their internship experience. 
  7. Performance Evaluation by Site Supervisor: 
    • The internship coordinator will conduct end-of-the-semester evaluations via email (or telephone) with site supervisors.
    • Site supervisors will verify the completion of hours and rate the student’s performance as aligned with the learning objectives.
    • Students may be asked to meet with the coordinator to discuss any issues or concerns based upon log submission or concerns by the student’s site supervisor. Students are welcome to set up a meeting any time with the coordinator to discuss any issues or concerns that they may have.

Note: Students may not receive more than 3 units of internship credit in the Sociology of Criminology Major. Soc/Crim double majors (dual enrollment) may enroll in 3 credits of Soc internship and 3 credits of Crim internship. With special permission, students may obtain additional credit for internships by using pass/fail field study credits. Please discuss this option with Donna Sedgwick if interested.

Internship Evaluation

Dr. Sedgwick determines your internship grade (A – F) based on the following:

  • Completion of 120 hours of internship service (worth 30% of grade)
  • Evaluation by site supervisor about the student’s overall performance and meeting the learning objectives (worth 37% of grade)
  • Completion of logs, responses to log comments, instructor evaluation of responses to prompts, final reflection paper, and poster as they connect to the sociological/criminological and career-based learning objectives(worth 33% of grade)

Please direct any internship questions to Donna Sedgwick at (email) sedgwick@vt.edu